EMF Research

The American Cancer Society reviewed a January 2000 study that found no association between EMFs and childhood cancer: “This was a nice, large, population-based study. It found no evidence of an association of EMF and acute lymphoclastic leukemia, all leukemias, central nervous system tumors, and all other malignant disease.”

A 1996 report by the National Research Council concluded that “after examining more than 500 studies spanning 17 years of research, the committee said there is no conclusive evidence that EMFs play a role in the development of cancer, reproductive and developmental abnormalities, or learning and behavioral problems.”

The most recent comprehensive study was completed by the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology—Danish Cancer Center, in Denmark, and published in the December 2006 Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers evaluated cell phone records of over 420,000 people between 1982 and 1995 to determine if there was any increase in cancerous tumors in the brain, salivary glands, eyes or ears, or a heightened risk of leukemia caused by EMF in cell phones. The study concluded that there was no evidence of any link to cancer.

On its Web site in 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) posted the following statement about EMF research and reports: “A mix of studies in different research areas is essential for the evaluation of a potential adverse health effect of electromagnetic fields. Different types of studies investigate distinct aspects of the problem.” WHO suggests that individuals judge reports by the media and other groups with caution.